Yuan Zhi - Polygala sibiricum

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Yuan Zhi
 
 Latin
Radix Polygala tenuifolia
 Introduction Back to Top
Yuanzhi is officially listed in the Chinese pharmacopoeia as the dried root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. or Polygala sibirica L. (Fam . Polygalaceae). The drug is collected in spring and autumn, removed from rootlet and soil and dried in the sun. It is used in Traditional Chinese medicine as a mucolytic for the treatment of cough. It is further used as a sedative.

 Western medical Back to Top
Commonly indicated for neurasthenia, palpitations, amnesia, insomnia, cough with excessive sputum, carbuncle, furuncle and boils.
P .tenuifolia has expectorant, antibiotic and hemolytic actions.
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Calms the spirit: nourishes the heart. Excessive dreaming, insomnia, cough due to cold-phlegm, painful swelling due to damp-phlegm.
  • Properties: Pungent, bitter flavor; warm property.
  • Channels Entered: Lung, Heart & Kidney
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
Triterpenoids; (saponins, ca. 7-4%) onjisaponins (A=senesin IV, B=senegin III) :?-amyrin.
The root of Polygala species is known to contain triterpene saponins. Seven intact saponins were isolated and designated as onjisaponins A-G.
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
General effect

Saponins isolated from P. tenuifolia showed inhibitory activity against cAMP phosphodiesterase. The concentrations of onjisaponins E, F, and G required to give 50% inhibition were of the same order as that of papaverine. A kinetic study revealed that onjisaponin F acts noncompetitively against cAMP phosphodiesterase, like papaverine. Onjisaponin F exhibited a prolongation effect on hexobarbital induced sleeping time in mice.

Expectorant action

The expectorant action of this herb is probably due to the stimulation of the gastiric mucosa by its saponins, which reflexively enhance bronchial secretion.

Sedative and Anticonculsant action

The root bark, the whole root and the root core of P.tenuifolia had synergeistic actions with barbituates. Intragastric administration of these agents at 3.125 g/kg to mice promoted sleep in the aminals given a subthreshold hypnotic dose of pentobarbital sodium. The whole root at the same dosage had a stronger antagonistic action against convulsions induced by pentylenetrazole than the root bark: the root core was not active.

Hypotensive action

The 100% injection administered to anaethetised dogs by intravenous injection at the dose of 0.25ml/kg lowered blood pressure by 40-50%.

Hemolytic action

The herb showed a strong hemolytic action in vitro which was elicited by its saponins.

Bacteriostatic action

The 10% herb decoction was found to have inhibitory action against Diplococcus pneumoniae. The ethanol extract of the herb significantly inhibited gram positive bacteria, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmomnella typhi, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis in vitro.
 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Uterine contraction

Both in vitro and in situ experiments proved that the fuluid extract of the P.tenuifolia strengthened the contraction and increased the muscle tone of the uteri of pregnant and nonpregnant gunea pigs , rabbits, cats and dogs. Its action was attributed to the direct stimulation of the myometrium of the saponins. The ethanol-precipitated decoction made into a 100% injection aslo strongly stimulated the contraction of the isolated uteri of nonpregnat rats and mice.Intravenous injection of the 6.6% herb decoction at 3-6ml also exerted a significant stimulant action on the in situ uteri of pregnant dogs.
 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998